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2 bowls of clam miso soup on a black tray.

Clam Miso Soup

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 49kcal
Author: Shinee
When making clam miso soup, you don’t need to use dashi powder, as clams add nice flavor to the stock.
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Ingredients

  • 1 lb Manila or littleneck clams Note 1
  • 1/4 cup sea salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons red or white miso paste or a combination of two Note 2
  • 4 oz silken tofu cubed, optional
  • 2 green onions green portion only, thinly sliced, optional

Instructions

To prepare clams:

  • Scrub the clams under running cold water and rinse them with cold water a few times until water run clear.
  • In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of cold water and salt. Stir until salt is dissolved. Add the washed clams and soak the clams in the refrigerator for minimum of 20 minutes or up to 2 hours. Soaking in salt water, helps to draw out the sand.

To cook clams:

  • Add 5 cups of cold water in a large saucepan. Add clams and bring it to a boil over high heat. Skim off the foam on top with a spoon.
  • A minute or so after the water boils, the clams should open, which means they’re cooked. (TIP: It’s very important to keep an eye on clams. It takes just about a minute to cook the clams once the water comes to a boil. If cooked for longer than a minute, they will turn tough and rubbery!)

To make miso soup:

  • Immediately reduce the heat to low and transfer about 1 cup of stock to a cup and stir in miso paste. Stir until miso paste is fully dissolved.
  • Pour the miso mixture back into the stock.
  • Add tofu and green onion, if using. Simmer gently for 2 minutes and serve. (TIP: Don’t bring the soup to a boil after adding miso paste!)

Notes

Note 1: Traditional Japanese clam miso soup calls for asari, or Manila clams. These are hard-shell steamer clams that have tender sweet meat. You can also use littleneck clams instead of Manila clams.
Note 2: White miso paste is milder, while red miso paste has a stronger taste. I prefer to use a combination of both. If you’re new to miso soup, I recommend buying white miso paste.

Nutrition

Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 49kcal
Carbohydrates: 4g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 1g
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 7495mg